Clutch mechanism



PatentedJan. 14, 1941 I I r I UNITED sTA rss PATENT oFFlcE George h zta 761 :1 (cum-5i) This invention relates to clutch mechanism and mechanism is adapted for use wherever it'is de particularly to devices of this type and kind as sired to selectively or 7 simultaneously establish employed, for example, in tapping attachments driving contact betweena clutch plate and opfor providing forward and reverse drive ofa tool' posed clutch members, and it will be understood 5 5 supporting shaft or spindle; and the object of the that I do not limit myself to the particular adapinvention is to provide aclutch of the"characti-zr tation of my improved clutch structure which is described employing what might be termed a cor shown in'the drawing. I rugated driving shell, that is to say, a shell hav-y In the drawing, l0 representsthe drive spindle ing two circumferentially arranged clutchireeeivwhich protrudes beyond the casing or housing I I m 10 ing grooves arranged one within the other. and for attachment to a suitable" source of driving opening upwardly and downwardly with respect power. The casing or housing ll isformed of a to the drive shell, each groove'being preferably top cover part l2, a main'casing part iii, a bot: of V-shaped cross sectional form in providing ditom cover part or casing l4 and a partitioning verging clutch-engaging surfaces for said grooves; plate part IS. The latter subdivldes an upper astill further object beingtoprovide clutch memgear chamber lli from the ,clutch chamber I'I,

bers preferably of non-metallic material in the whereas an extension IS on the main casing part form of rings which are subdivided at circum- 3 coopera es w th a r v r v clutch pp ferentially spaced intervals into. separate arcing plate I! in forming another gear chamber shaped portions, whereby automatic alinement which is subdivided and sealed from the chamber 20 and seating of the rings in each groove'of the n. The purp s of his r c i n is t predriving shell is made possible; a still further on. vent lubricant, preferably in the form of a grease, ject being to provide clutch plates having drive which is placed in each of the chambers I6, 20. ing pins forming keys for coupling the.=clutch fromentering the-chamber H. The grease is inmembers therewith with resilient means arranged r lw d in the m r through a chin the tubular portion of the pins for retaining able plug 2| having a vent 22 therein, whereas 25 the arc-shaped clutch sections against displacegrease is admitted into the chamber 20 through nt from th pins and aid lutch plat and aplug 23 mounted in an extension l3a of the caswith these and other objects in view, the invenin a V being also provided to h chamber tion consists in a clutch mechanism of the class 20, as clearly see n Fig. 1.

and for the purpose specified, which is simple in A'bali bearing 25 is arranged in the part I2, it 30 construction, efiicient in use, and which is conheing held therein by a retaining plate 26. Freestructed as hereinafter described and claimed. 1! rotatable in the bearing 25 is a driv TI The invention is fully disclosed in the followkeyed as see at 28 to a clutch supp tin p a e ing specification, of which the; accompanying 2! which is provided with a sleeve portion 30 into drawing forms a part, in which the separate parts which h Spindle I0 i threaded- A ush n of my improvement are designated by suitable is mefl i h Sleeve 3|! to rm a guide for the reference characters in each of the views, and in pp reduced d p n of a driven p l which: 32 as will be apparent.

Fig. 1 is a sectional View through a, tapping at- The extension a has a cylindrical portion 33 4o tachment showing my improved clutch mechl l rpor ion of which is arranged a bronze anism arranged therein, bushing 34 to 868.1 and guide a supplemental shaft Fig. la is a diagrammatic plan view of a por- 35 therein- -8 1 1. being se r o he upp tion of the-structure shown in Figure 1.- end of the shaft 35, and this gear meshes with Fig. 2is a detail view of the clutch mechanism. the gear 21. A gear 31 is secured to the lower Fig. 3 is a plan view of one of the clutch rings end of the shaft 35 and meshes with a pinion 38 which I employ detached, and arranged upon a stub shaft 39 in the case part ll. Fig. 4 is an enlarged section on the line l -l of The pinion 38 also meshes with a gear 40 which Fig. 3 and on an enlarged scale. is freely rotatable upon an upwardly extending The clutch mechanism forming the subject matsleeve portion ll on the case part I4 and forms, 5Q ter of this inventionis shown and described genin the construction shown, part of the clutch supf erally in a companion application for a patent on porting plate I 9. The plate I9 has a ball bearing a tapping attachment, Serial No. 283,760 illed July mounting l2 on the inner end of the sleeve 4|, 11, 1939. This attachment is shown in Fig. 1 or another ball bearing mounting 43' being provided the drawing simply for the purpose of illustrating for the plate I! in the casing part I. The shaft one adaptation of my clutch mechanism. This 32 has a ball bearing mounting as at 44 in the 55 lower portion of the case part I 4, the bearing being held in place by a cap 45.

It will appear that the extension I! of the casing l3 has .a-tongue and grooye'connection with the clutch plate I! in forming the seal between the chamber 20 and the chamber I l.

A nut 46 is arranged upon the inner end of the sleeve 4| to retain the bearing 42 in position.

A double circumferentially grooved driw'ng clutch shell 41 is arranged within the chamber I], being supported centrally on a sleeve hub portion 40 to which it is secured, the latter being keyed to the shaft 32 and held against displacement thereon by a nut 49. In mentioning the double grooved shell, one might say that the shell is of corrugated .cross sectional form to provide a downwardly opening annular channel "at the periphery of the shell and an upwardly directed channel 5| inwardly of said first named channel. Both channels are of V-shaped cross sectional form to provide outwardly diverging surfaces in connection with which clutch ringsof corre--' sponding cross sectional form are adapted to seat. The upper or forward drive clutch ring is shown at 52, whereas the lower or reverse drive ring is shown at 53. These clutch rings are preferably composed of fibrous heat material, such for example as an asbestos base brake material.

A plan view of one of the rings, for example the ring 53 is shown detached in Fig. 3 of the drawins. from which figure vit will be noted that the ring is divided into three sectional parts 53a, 53b, and 530. Adjacent ends of the parts envelope sleeve-like studs 54 secured to the plate l9 within the base of which are'secured coil springs 55 (as seen at 55a in Fig. 4), the upper ends 55b of which are hooked over a split ring 56 seating in an upper grooved portion5'l on the ring 53 of the separate parts or sections thereof. As each clutch ring is of the same construction, the brief description as applied to one will be readable on both, the same reference numerals being applied.

It will be noted, that slight clearance is allowed between the clutch sections and the studs by forming the grooves 58 in the clutch sections slightly larger than the studs 54. This isimportant to provide for the expansion and contraction of the clutch sections while in use. This construction will permit free independent seating of the separate ring sections in'the grooves 50, 5| of the driving shell 41, thus providing a very firm and positive drive of both clutches through the shell or to the shellin the forward and reverse drives of the clutch mechanism, while at the same time providing for slippage if excessive stresses or strains should prevail. It is to be understood in this connection, however, that one of the main objects of my invention resides in the provision of a clutch mechanism which willprovide for the high speed drive of a tool orother member when subjected to heavy loads,.for example in the operation of the larger types of tools.

It will also appear from theme of the invention as disclosed in Fig. 1 of the drawing, that the reverse drive ofthe tool; that is to say. in

- drawing a tap out of the workpiece, the tool is operated in the largest diameter of the drive shell, whereas in the forward or direct drive of the tool, the shell is'driven through'the innermost-groove through the smaller'diameter ring 51 The drive shell 41 is normally supported in engagement with the direct driveclutch 52 by a spring, as clearly shown in Fig.1. This engagement is intensified by the downward pressure of the entire device when feeding a tool, suchfor example as a tap, into a workpiece. When the pressure is reversed and the device raised to remove the tool from the workpiece, the shell 41 remains stationary' with the result that the shell is disengaged from the clutch 52 and engages the reverse drive clutch 53. The reverse drive clutch 53 being constantly rotated in the reverse direction through the reverse gear mechanism, operates to rotate the tool in the reverse direction, thereby withdrawing the tool from the workpiece. When the tool is clear of the workpiece. the drive shell 41 is again moved by the action of the spring into the normal position of engagement with the clutch 52.

- It will of course be apparent that the forward drive is direct from the spindle II) to the shaft 32, whereas in the reverse drive, the clutch plate I! is actuated through the gears employed and the spindle shaft 35. It will also be apparent that other forms of clutch drive plates may be provided in adapting the clutch mechanism to other types and kinds of apparatus or devices, the present illustration being simply to show the adaptation thereof to the tapping attachment which is herein briefly described.

Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a clutch mechanism of the class described having forward and reverse drive clutch members, a clutch shell having an inner circumferential groove and an outercircumferential groove, the first named groove opening one side of the shell and the latter groove at the opposite side thereof, the walls of each groove diverging outwardly at the sides of the shell, a unitary portion of the shell being common to and forming one diverging wall of each groove, said shell being fixedly secured to a member to be driven, and said-shell and member being axially movable to selectively'engage said grooves with said forward and reverse drive clutch members.

2. A clutch mechanism of the class described comprising two clutch plates, each having a pluon each plate with adjacent ends of the sections keyed to said studs to form substantially continuous" circumferential clutch rings, resilient means yieldably supporting the ring sections in connection with said plates and studs, a clutch shell disposed intermediate said clutch rings, said shell having an inner circumferential groove engaging one of the clutch rings and an outer circumferential groove for engagement with the other clutch ring, said grooves opening at opposed surfaces of said shell.

- 3.'A 'C1utCh mechanism of the class described comprising two clutch plates, each having aplurality of circumferentially spaced driving studs, a plurality of arc-shaped ring sections arranged on each .plate with adjacent ends of the sections keyed to said studs to form substantially continuous circumferential clutch rings, resilient means yieldably supporting the ring sections'in connection with said plates and studs, a clutch shell disposed intermediate said clutch rings,,said shell having an inner circumferential groove engaging'one of the clutch ringsand an outer circumferential groove for engagement with the other clutch rings, said grooves being concentrically arrangedand opening at opposed surfaces of said shell, said grooves and rings being substantially V-shaped in cross sectional form, and a unitary annular portion of the shell forming one wall of each of the grooves therein.

4. In a clutch of the class described, a clutch member compris'ng a plate having a plurality of studs projecting from one surface thereof, a plurality of arc-shaped clutch sections disposedon said surface of the plate with adjacent ends of the sections abutting said studs to form a substantially circumferentially continuous ring on said surface of the plate, inner and outer circumferential walls of the ring being inclined toward each other imparting a substantially V- shaped cross sectional contour to said ring,- and means coupled with said studs and said sections for yieldably supporting the sections upon the plate thereby providing independent movement and self-alinement of the sections in a clutch 1 shell engaged thereby.

5. In a clutch of the class described, a clutch member comprising a plate havinga plurality of studs projecting from one surface thereof, a plurality of arc-shaped clutch sections disposed on said surface of the plate with adjacent ends of the sections abutting said studs to form a substantially circumferentially continuous ring on said surface of the plate, inner and outer circumferential walls of the ring being inclined toward each other imparting a substantially V- shaped cross sectional contour to said ring, means coupled with said studs and said sections for yieldably supporting the sections upon the plate rality of arc-shaped clutch sections disposed on said surface of the plate with adjacent ends of the sections abutting said studs to form a subatantially circumferentially continuous ring on said surface of the plate, inner and outer circumferential walls of the ring being inclined toward each other imparting a substantially V- shaped cross sectional contour to said ring, means coupled with said studs and said sections for yieldablysupporting the sections upon the plate for independent movement in providing selfalinement of the sections in a clutch shell engaged thereby, said last named means comprising a split ring seating in a groove in the outer end of said sections, coil springs coupled with said split ring and mounted in tubular portions of said studs, and said ring sections being composed of asbestos brake material.

'1. In a clutch of the class described, the combination with an axially movable clutch shell having concentrically arranged circumferential clutch receiving grooves opening at opposed surfaces of the shell, of small and large diameter clutch members, each member comprising a series of yieldably supported arc-shaped sections which collectively form a ring-like clutch for free engagement with the clutch grooves of said shell.

8. A clutch of the class described comprising two clutch rings composed of fibrousheat resistant material, said rings being arranged one within the other in spaced relation, means coupling the rings to independent supports, a clutch shell disposed intermediate said rings, said rings having beveled inner and outer surfaces forming a substantially V-shaped cross sectional contour, said shell having concentrically arranged circumferential grooves of V-shaped cross sectional form, said grooves opening at opposite sides of said shell in alinementwith said rings, the spacing of said rings being suiilcient to prevent simultaneous engagement of said shell with both of said rings, and said shell being axially movable to selectively engage each of said rings.

9. A clutch of the classdescribed comprising two clutch rings, one arranged within the other in spaced relation, means coupling the rings to independent supports, a clutch shell. disposed intermediate said rings, said rings having beveled inner and outer surfaces forming a substantially V-shaped cross sectional contour, said shell having inner and outer circumferential grooves of V-shaped cross sectional form with one groove opening outwardly at one side of the shell and the other groove at the other side thereof, means supporting the shell for selective axial movement into engagement with each of said rings. said clutch rings being each subdivided into independent arc-shaped ring sections, said first named means comprising circumferentially spaced alining and retaining members on said supports, and recessed portions on said ring sections, the engagement between said members and recessed portions of said sections providing slight relative movement of said sections with respect to the corresponding supports thereby facilitating proper seating of the sections in said shell EIOOVCS.

GEORGE W. EMRICK. 

